Thermoplastic polyurethane compositions for golf balls

Abstract

A golf ball comprising: (A) a core; (B) optionally, at least one intermediate layer; and (C) a cover layer, wherein the cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a polyurethane-urea composition that is the reaction product of: (i) a thermoplastic polyurethane-urea formed as a reaction product of (a) a diol or polyol, (b) a first isocyanate, and (c) an amine chain extender; and (ii) a crosslinking agent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 (A) a core;   (B) optionally, at least one intermediate layer; and   (C) a cover layer,   wherein the cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a polyurethane-urea composition that is the reaction product of:   (i) a thermoplastic polyurethane-urea formed as a reaction product of (a) a diol or polyol, (b) a first isocyanate, and (c) an amine chain extender; and   (ii) a crosslinking agent.   
     
     
         2 . A golf ball comprising:
 (A) a core;   (B) optionally, at least one intermediate layer; and   (C) a cover layer,   wherein the cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a polyurethane-urea composition that is formed from:   (i) a crosslinked polyurethane-urea that is a reaction product of (a) a diol or polyol, (b) a first isocyanate, and (c) an amine chain extender.   
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking agent is selected from a diamine, a second amine, a blocked amine, a second isocyanate, a blocked isocyanate, a polyamine, a polyisocyanate, a peroxide, a sulfur-containing compound, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking agent is a second isocyanate. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer comprises the polyurethane-urea composition. 
     
     
         6 . A golf ball comprising:
 (A) a core;   (B) optionally, at least one intermediate layer; and   (C) a cover layer,   wherein the cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a UV-cured polyurethane.   
     
     
         7 . A golf ball comprising:
 (A) a core;   (B) optionally, at least one intermediate layer; and   (C) a cover layer,   wherein the cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a crosslinked polyurethane composition that is formed from a UV-curable thermoplastic polyurethane.   
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the UV-curable thermoplastic polyurethane includes UV-curable (meth)acrylic functional groups. 
     
     
         9 . A method for making a golf ball comprising:
 forming a layer over a golf ball core or forming a layer over a golf ball intermediate layer, wherein the layer comprises a crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane-urea that is a reaction product of (a) a diol or polyol, (b) a first isocyanate, and (c) an amine chain extender; and   crosslinking the crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane-urea.   
     
     
         10 . A method for making a golf ball comprising:
 forming a layer over a golf ball core or forming a layer over a golf ball intermediate layer, wherein the layer comprises a UV-crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane; and   irradiating the layer with UV light under conditions sufficient for crosslinking the UV-crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane.